Area: 603,700 km²
Population: 48,500,000
Constitution: Adopted in 1996
Parliamentary System: Verkhovna Rada 450 deputies
President: Mr. Viktor Yushchenko (since 2005)
Prime Minister: Mrs. Yuliya Tymoshenko
Foreign Minister: Mr. Borys Tarasyuk

Main political parties

Party	Percentage (March 2002 elections)
Our Ukraine	23.57 %
Communist Party	19.98 %
Coalition “For a United Ukraine”	11.77 %
Juliya Timoshenko Coalition	6.87 %
Socialist Party	6.87 %
Social-Democratic Party	6.27 %

Greek-Ukrainian Relations

Introductory Remarks

Greek-Ukrainian relations have developed steadily in all fields since Ukraine declared its independence, following the collapse of the former Soviet Union.

Following the establishment of a Greek Embassy in Kiev in 1993, Consulates General were established in Mariupol and Odessa. Moreover a branch of the Hellenic Foundation for Culture was established also in Odessa.

The presence of a significant number of Ukrainian citizens of Greek origin, living mainly in the south of the country, near the Black Sea, contributes positively to the overall development of bilateral relations.

Political Relations

In the political field, relations between the two countries are characterized by a spirit of cooperation and mutual trust. This is reflected both in the mutual official visits, as well as in various other working visits.

Former Ukrainian President Mr. Kuchma paid an official visit to Greece in November 1996, which was reciprocated by a visit of the Greek President Mr. Stephanopoulos, in December 1997, thus giving impetus to the development of Greek-Ukrainian cooperation. Former Prime Minister Mr. Simitis visited Kiev in July 2002 and former Ukrainian Prime Minister and new elected President Mr. Yushchenko visited Athens in April 2001.

Moreover, President Mr. Stephanopoulos had a bilateral meeting with former President Mr. Kuchma (17.04.2003), on the occasion of the latter's visit to Athens, for the European Conference. Finally, the Greek Prime Minister Mr. Karamanlis had a bilateral meeting with the former Ukrainian Prime Minister Mr. Yanukovich (13/8/2004) on the occasion of the latter's visit to Athens for the Olympic Games.

Economic Relations

Bilateral economic relations are developing, but there is still potential to further increase bilateral trade (especially with regard to Greek exports to Ukraine), to promote investments and to enhance economic cooperation in general.

The total amount of bilateral trade was €311.3 million in 2003 (Greek exports to Ukraine: €58.4 mil; imports: €252.9 mil.).

Greece exports mainly vehicles, fruit and petrol products and imports hydrocarbon fuel, steel and chemical products.

Sixty-two Greek companies, 29 of which are joint ventures, are active in Ukraine. Total invested Greek capital amounts to $20.1 million. The above companies are active mainly in the fields of construction, transport, communications, commerce, light industry and chemical industry.

Bilateral cooperation is coordinated by a Joint Inter-ministerial Committee on Economic and Technological Cooperation.

Greek development assistance to Ukraine for the period 1997-2003 amounted to €7.5 million.

Defence Cooperation

A bilateral Agreement on Defence Cooperation is in force. Military cooperation programs, the majority of which are implemented, are agreed upon on a yearly basis.

Cultural Relations

Cultural relations between Greece and Ukraine are regulated by the bilateral Cultural Agreement, which was signed in 1996.

In implementation of the Cultural Agreement, the two countries signed the first bilateral Programme on Cultural, Scientific and Educational Cooperation, which is in force for the period 2002-2005 and provides for cooperation and exchanges in the sectors of education, science, language teaching and support, cultural events, mass media, sports and youth issues.

Greek is taught as an optional language in several Ukrainian Universities. The Universities of Thessaloniki, Ioannina, Patras and the Aegean Sea have established contacts with Ukrainian Universities and conduct projects of Greek language courses and accommodation of Ukrainian students and professors in Greece.

In Odessa, there is a branch of the Hellenic Foundation for Culture, which, in cooperation with the Museum of History of Odessa, founded the Historical Museum of the Philiki Etaireia (Society of Friends). Moreover, the Archaeological Museum of Odessa, which is considered the richest in ancient Greek finds in the former Soviet Union, was inaugurated in September 2003.

Contractual framework

The contractual framework covers almost all the aspects of cooperation between the two countries (political, economic, defence, energy, cultural etc.). The following agreements are of particular interest: Friendship and Cooperation Agreement, Economic, Industrial, Scientific and Technological Cooperation Agreement, Investment Promotion and Mutual Protection Agreement, Road Transport Agreement, Air Transports Cooperation Agreement, Avoidance of Double Income Taxation Agreement, Shipping Agreement.

EU-Ukraine relations

For information about European Union-Ukraine relations, please click here.

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